I’m gay. Other people are too. Let’s move forward.

I read an article yesterday that included a statistic from The Suicide Prevention Resource Center –

They estimate that between 30 and 40% of LGBT youth (Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) have attempted suicide.

Within this percentage, LGBT youths who experience rejection from their families are more than 8 times more likely to have attempted suicide, and 6 times more likely to report high levels of depression.

I read this and was heartbroken. But not surprised.

I wasn’t surprised because I’ve seen first hand the discrimination, the hatred and the lack of understanding that LGBT people face on a regular basis. And the saddest fact is that the place I’ve seen this most prominently is in the church – I have no doubt that the church’s outspoken attitude on homosexuality and the way it has treated the LGBT community in the past has contributed to the suicide statistics mentioned above.